SULPHLEX MIXTURE DESIGN METHOD BASED ON THE INDIRECT TENSILE TEST.

A method of designing Sulphlex mixtures were developed based on the indirect tension test. The design procedure allows prediction of paving mix performance from the ultimate tensile properties. These properties were found to be sensitive to binder content variation. The toughness of Sulphlex and asphalt concrete mixes was shown to reach a well-defined peak, which corresponds very closely to the optimum binder content. The variation of toughness with changes in aggregate angularity, temperature, and a rate of loading was examined. A more detailed analysis of mixture performance was based on the failure envelope. The concept of a window on the failure stress-strain plot formed by boundary curves representing types of pavement distress was developed. Boundary curves were established for the permanent deformation and thermal cracking modes of failure.

SULPHLEX MIXTURE DESIGN METHOD BASED ON THE INDIRECT TENSILE TEST. Academic Article